Lithuanian President Gitanas Nausėda on Thursday signed a decree approving the nomination of MEP Andrius Kubilius for the country’s European commissioner.
The president has also signed a letter confirming the nomination to EC President Ursula von der Leyen, the President’s Office said.
Kubilius’ nomination still needs to be approved by the Seimas.
Seimas first Deputy Speaker Jurgis Razma told BNS on Thursday that the parliament might hold an extraordinary session on September 3 to vote on the nomination.
“We are looking into September 3. I still have to talk to the elders of all the groups to see if this date is suitable,” he said, adding that the final decision on the date could be made next week.
Kubilius is being nominated after Nausėda rejected Foreign Minister Gabrielius Landsbergis, the leader of the ruling conservative Homeland Union-Lithuanian Christian Democrats (TS-LKD), as the country’s candidate to become a European commissioner.
A former prime minister, Kubilius has served as an MEP since 2019 and was re-elected for a second term earlier this year. He is a strong advocate for closer ties between the EU and the Eastern Partnership countries, increased support for Ukraine, and a tougher stance toward the Kremlin.
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